Vehicle-signal.



E. J. BEST. su GLM. HTGH. `VEHICLE SIGNAL. APPLmnIonHLB'p 1:20.27, 1910; K y Y Patented June 11, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

E. J. BEST & G. M. FITCH.

VEHICLE SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED 1320.27, 1910.

vPatented June 11, 1912.

' cpv,

gag wa i EDWARD J. BEST ANDoHARLEs ivi. riroiifor CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.:

vEHIoLEfsIGN'AL.

Aunlication led December 27, 1910. Serial No. 599,318.'l

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that'we, EDWARD J. BEST and CHARLES M. FITCH, citizens of the United States, and residents of the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, lhave invented `certainnew and use ful. Improvements in Vehicle-S1gnals, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in signals for vehicles and more specifically. to rear signals for automobiles, the object of the invention being to provide signals adapted to lessen or eliminate danger ofrear end collisions.

The invention consists in a combination. and arrangements of parts hereinafter-described and claimed.

The invention will be bestv understood by reference to the accompanying. drawings forming a part of this specification, and in Which-.

Figure l is a front elevation of a signal embodying our invention, and shovving the electric circuits 1n diagrammatic view, Fig.

2, a front View of the signal casing With the front Wall removed, Fig. 3, a section of the device taken on line of Fig. 1, Fig. 4, a-sectionotl the device taken on line g/-y of Fig. 1, and Fig. 5, a sectionV of the device taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

The preferred form of construction as illustrated in the drawings, comprises a suitable casing 1 which may be of sheet metal or other suitable material and is adapted to be suspended or otherwise secured to the rear of lan automobile or other vehicle. 'A

rod 2 traverses the front portion ofsa'id cassaid sign being made to exhibit said Wordv in red when illuminated. Another lpair ot spaced brackets 5 are mounted between brackets 3 and lcarry a similar conyen transparent semaphore 4signal sign bearing the word Left in a green'color when illuminated. Electro-magnets 7 and 8 are arranged vatileach side o f said semaphore signals and @armatures 9 and 10 are pivoted on |rod 2 cooperates With said magnets as shown.'l Levers -11 and 12 are fulcrumed yin the casing above armatures 9 and 10 and are connected respectively with the vouter 'ends of said armatu'resby means of links 13 fand A14a The-inner end of lever ll-is Specification of lLetters Patent.`

Patented June 11, 1912.

connectedby means of a bent link 15 with one of the brackets 5 and the linner endiof lever 12 is connected by means of alinklG with one'of the brackets` 3 as shown. Elec.- tric wires 17 are connected for separate excitation of magnets 7 and 8 and are'passed through 'a `suitable conduit 18 to. a lbutton or switchboard 19vwhich is designed to be located Within convenientreach of the driver ,or operator of the vehicle.. The board 19 is provided with buttons 20 and 21 and is so connected .with a battery 22 so as to permit the closing of ,an electric circuit through' either ofthe magnets 7 and.8, 'as will be readily understood by tho-se skilled in the art.- The -rear Wall of the casing l is pro- 'vided with a clear glass lighter plate 2 3 and a red glass light or plate 24, as ishoWn. The interior of the casing 1 is illuminated by means ofy electric light bulbs 25, and a reflector 26 is provided on the rear Wall of said casing.

In use the casing 1 is suspended or'otherwise mounted upon the rear or tail end of an automobile or other vehicle, and if atnight, the electric lights 25 are lighted.l This sup-v plies the permanent re'd light- Vtail si nal seen through glass 24 which serves t` e usual function. When the driver decides to turn his vehicle to one side or. the other, there'is danger of collision with an overtaking vemeans of one of the buttons 20 or 21 and by giving Warning to an overtaking driver who will then easily avoid the collision. In the daytime it is not necessary to illuminate the design, the Words Right and Left appearing thereon in ldark colors.- A license tag 27 is also suspended from the bottom of casing 1 and the bottoni of said casing is slotted and covered with a clear glass light ioo or plate 28 for the purpose of illuminating said tag at night, the top of the casing serving vas a reflector for this purpose.

`While We have shown what We deem to be the preferred constructionfor carrying our invention into effect. this is capable of 'variation' Without departing from the spirit of the invention. Hence, we desire to avail ourselves of Asuch variations and moditicapended claim.

. 'clear glass pane in the rear Wall of said casing; a rod traversing the front of said cas v ing; a pair of spaced brackets pivoted on said rod and carrying a-convex transparent sign arranged to be swung to and away from a position behind said clear glass' pane; an-

other pair of spaced 'brackets pivoted on`v said rod between saidirst pair and carrying a. conveir transparent signarranged to -be swung to and away roma position be- ,o hind said clear glass pane and behind said first-mentioned sign, one of said signs bearing'the word-Right and the other the Word Left; an electrosmagnet arranged each of said armatures; a link connection bey tween the rearvvard'end of' saidarmatures" and saidy levers; a link connection between the forward endsof each oi said 1levers'and one of said pairs of'brackets'near their pivots; and electric circuits under the control of the driver and arranged to excite said magnets, substantially as described.

' In' testimony Wliereo We have signed our names to this specification in t-he presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

' .EDWARD J.l BEST.

CHARLES lVLxFITCl-l. Witnesses z,

HELEN F. LILLIS, J caninal R. H. Porrs. 

